Fire on oil tankers at South Korean port injures nine

A huge blast on an oil tanker at the South Korean port of Ulsan Saturday, September 28, sparked a raging fire that spread to a nearby vessel, leaving 18 people injured. One sailor is reported to be fighting for his life.

The explosion occurred on the Stolt Groenland, a 25,000-tonne, Cayman Island-flagged oil tanker, at the southern port of Ulsan at around 10.50 am local time (9.50 am Singapore time), Yonhap reported, citing the Coast Guard.

There were 25 sailors aboard, including Russians and Filipinos, Yonhap said.

The fire spread to another unspecified oil tanker docked nearby, it said.

All of the sailors on the Stolt Groenland and another 21 aboard the other ship were rescued, Yonhap said.

Nine sailors were wounded including one in critical condition, the report said, without specifying what ship they were on.